Is this the next Intergalactic MCU Team?

So! It seems that my previous post urged Marvel Studios to get their act together and make sure that The Hulk has an appearance in the MCU, sooner rather than later.

The End of the MCU as we know it.

The Burning of Asgard

Just the other day via Stan Lee's official website, it was announced that Mark Ruffalo's Incredible Hulk would be appearing in the thunder god's solo movie, Thor: Ragnarok. In Norse mythology, Ragnarok was the end times of the universe, instigated by Thor's half brother Loki.

The Marvel comics run of this event correlated with this myth, having Loki call upon the demon god Surtur who instigated the war of the nine realms. To sum it up quickly.

The nine realms have a war. Surtur is summoned by Loki. Thor realises that Asgard will repeat Ragnarok and so destroys his Kingdom. Mjolnir flies to earth and Thor is thought to be dead. Until a new Thor rises.

BUT WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH THE HULK?

New Alliances

Out with the old, in with the new.

New information has been released today stating that Ragnarok is the darkest script that has ever slid across the desk of Marvel execs. This has resulted in Disney/Marvel hiring a comedic director, Taika Waititi, to assist in lightening some of the darkest corners, so as to not make the film steer away from Marvel's established tone.

Throughout the movie, The Hulk and Thor will come across the Valkeries, meaning that it is highly likely we will be seeing the heroine Valkyrie. But still the question remains: why have Hulk in a Thor movie? Out of all possible team ups, it's Thor.

Well here is the link: The Defenders. If Valkyrie does make an appearance, it is very possible that we will see a new team form. The original Defenders. Why am I so sure? Who is the key here that may seal the fate of this film? The one and only, Doctor Strange.

Back to the Beginning

Valkyrie on the cover of The Defenders #4

1971 was the year that Doctor Strange, Hulk and Namor the Submariner teamed up to form a team of cosmic warriors who travelled through space battling wizards and supernatural beasts. The character Valkyrie joined the team in Issue #4.

That's 3 out of 4 'founding members' of the original team. The missing member? Namor. If you are an avid follower of the MCU and enjoy looking at the nitty gritty details, you will be aware that Namor's existence has been referenced before.

Iron Man 2 SHIELD screen

Is that *blip* in the middle of the ocean Atlantea? Quite possibly. And who holds the rights to a Namor movie? There is no straight answer to that. And even Kevin Feige admits that it is not an author's cop-out:

It’s slightly more complicated than that. Let’s put it this way – there are entanglements that make it less easy. There are older contracts that still involve other parties that mean we need to work things out before we move forward on it. As opposed to an Iron Man or any of the Avengers or any of the other Marvel characters where we could just put them in.

The first character Marvel comics (as Timely Comics) invented may well be appearing on screens sooner than we know.

Are You Sure?

Think it seems stupid?

The simple answer is: I can't be. However looking at the lineup of movies and how each one is ordered, it is more than likely. Benedict Cumberbatch's Doctor Strange is set to be released 2016, with Thor: Ragnarok in 2017.

Come 2020, where there are three new movie openings, there could well be the footing to create a Defenders movie. And why wouldn't Marvel create another team up movie? They have had two great results so far, Guardians of the Galaxy and Avengers 1 & 2. Why would they tie these three (already confirmed) characters in the same universe, if there was no plan to bring them together?

What About that Television Series You Mentioned?

Netflix's Defenders

Well that could still happen. However, there are two pieces of information floating around the internet as of right now:

1. The Iron Fist show could well be cancelled.

2. A Moon Knight television show could be in development at Netflix. (Taking Iron Fist's spot)

The television team-up titled The Defenders may change as time goes on and plans change.

Agh! Choices!

In a world rife with Marvel superheroes, it is difficult to say what I expect from the MCU in the coming years. And I am unsure which franchises I would love to see and which ones I would scrap.